LETTER | How we can avoid confusion over SOPs
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LETTER | A lot has already been said and discussed about the inconsistency and confusion over the standard operating procedures (SOP) since “total lockdown” was implemented on June 1. Starting after the announcement, confusion arose over the type of document that is allowed to pass through roadblocks and which authority can grant such permission.
The government has also backtracked on previous directive to cordon off sections in stores and hypermarkets that are selling “non-essential” items. It was eventually explained that the earlier SOP was to limit people from going to the stores and to avoid crowds. But if the people are already there for grocery shopping, what is the rationale for barring them from purchasing items such as hair dye?
With Venetian explorer Marco Polo writing interesting notes about the southern parts of India (and Italian Christopher Columbus reading them on his historic journey across the Atlantic), the tradition of Europeans writing travel narratives about India is long. But it perhaps had a more formal start with the diaries of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, the first European to discover a sea route to India.
This tradition grew stronger through colonial times and continues to grow even today. Western travellers, anthropologists, linguists, historians, fiction writers and even politicians and diplomats have written extensively about the Indian Subcontinent. While some of the narratives are systematic and very convincing, even for the natives, others contribute to what Edward Said theorised as “Orientalism” a representation of the Orient as it is not.
Ministry, IIU agree on joint efforts for narcotics control
Islamabad
June 3, 2021
Islamabad : The International Islamic University (IIU) and Ministry of Narcotics Control on Wednesday agreed on joint efforts for narcotics control besides sensitisation, research and dialogue for the purpose.
The agreement came during a visit of a delegation of the Ministry of Narcotics Control headed by Federal Secretary Captain (r) Akbar Hussain Durrani on the IIU’s new campus where it held a meeting with IIU Rector Dr. Masoom Yasinzai along with university Vice Presidents Dr. N.B. Jumani, Dr. Ayaz Afsar, provosts and Students Advisors of the university. The ministry’s delegation was also joined by Senior Joint Secretary Sabino Sikandar Jalal and Section Officer Muhammad Riaz Haral.